NATO defence ministers are meeting today in Brussels with a packed agenda focused on reinforcing air defences, supporting Ukraine, and tightening coordination along the alliance’s eastern flank.
According to France 24, the talks come amid growing concern that Russia is testing NATO’s resolve through repeated airspace violations and drone incursions. The gathering follows incidents involving Russian MiG-31 fighters in Estonian skies and unidentified drones over Belgium, Germany, and Denmark.
Sky News reports that U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is attending alongside Britain’s John Healey and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, as allies weigh further military assistance to Kyiv. Washington is also considering the delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles to bolster Ukraine’s defences.
As Politico notes, ministers will assess the new Eastern Sentry initiative, a redeployment of warplanes and radar systems to frontline states, while debating how far national restrictions, known as “caveats,” are limiting NATO’s ability to respond swiftly.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, UK Defence Secretary John Healey said, as quoted by Ukrainska Pravda, that the UK and NATO are seeking to “demonstrate the strength and unity of all allies in the face of the Russian threat.”
“Putin’s incursions into NATO territory are reckless, dangerous and totally unacceptable,” Healey said. “Whether his actions are deliberate or not, Putin is watching what we do. If NATO is threatened, we will act, and we must meet his escalation with our strength. So today we are stepping up together.”
Healey also announced that British fighter jets will continue patrolling Polish airspace until the end of the year as part of the Eastern Sentry mission.
The EU’s parallel plans for a “drone wall” and a 2030 defence strategy, championed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, are also expected to feature in the discussions.
As one NATO diplomat told Politico, “the challenge now is to close the gaps before Moscow tries again.”